Himanta discusses Assam’s pivotal role in India-Singapore relations, explores collaborations in semiconductors, green energy, and urban development ahead of Advantage Assam 2.0.
Guwahati, Feb 11: As part of his global outreach initiative for the upcoming Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Tuesday. Their discussions centred around Assam’s strategic role in the India-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Singapore’s support in Advantage Assam 2.0.
Recalling President Shanmugaratnam’s 2022 visit to Assam, Sarma expressed deep appreciation for Singapore’s continued engagement. He highlighted Assam’s potential in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, green energy, and advanced technology, emphasizing the state’s role as a key pillar in strengthening Indo-Singaporean ties.
Sarma also held discussions with Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, reinforcing Assam’s significance within India’s Act East Policy and exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration.
The Chief Minister’s visit featured high-level meetings with several Singaporean industry leaders, focusing on urban development, technical education, and industrial partnerships:
In a productive discussion with Low Cher Ek, CEO of Township Vertical Sarbana Jurong, Sarma explored ongoing and future collaborative urban development projects in Assam. The talks aimed to leverage Singapore’s expertise in city planning to develop smart cities and industrial parks in the state and enhance Assam’s ease of living and investment climate.
The Chief Minister also met with the CEO of ITE Education Services and his team, focusing on enhancing technical education and skill development in Assam. Discussions revolved around industry-specific training in aerospace, smart manufacturing, and electronics to bridge the gap between industry demands and graduate expertise, leveraging ITE’s top-tier faculty and training labs to set up a World Skill Centre in Assam, introducing industry-ready courses in applied sciences, business, ICT, engineering, hospitality, and tourism.
Earlier in the day, Sarma engaged in insightful discussions with leaders from ASMPT, AEM, Besi, Temasek, Silicon Box, Nitto Denko Corp, Heller Industries, and Meinhardt Group. The talks focused on potential collaborations in the semiconductor industry, exploring Assam’s role in India’s electronics manufacturing growth and developing an electronic city in Jagiroad as a key hub for investment.
Sarma’s visit underscores Assam’s growing importance as an investment destination and its ambition to partner with global leaders in technology, education, and urban development. With the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit on the horizon, his engagements in Singapore mark a significant step towards forging stronger economic and strategic ties between Assam and Singapore.
